Embracing a Green Lifestyle: Start With an Eco-Friendly Home

In today’s world, paying attention to environmental conditions and sustainability is gaining momentum, so an increasing number of people are choosing to adjust purchasing habits in ways that are kind of the environment. This trend is not just limited to purchasing recycled items and outfitting a home with energy-efficient lightbulbs, but also extends to properties themselves.

The National Association of Realtors conducted a study and found that over 80% of the people polled would like to live in an eco-friendly home, and 70% would be willing to pay more money for environmentally friendly features. Also, 30% of respondents said that their home is currently eco-friendly. If you’re committed to living in a way that supports the environment and are intrigued by these statistics, move yourself from the category of people who would like to live in environmentally friendly home to the ones who actually do. Keep reading for details.

Know What Certain Features Are Worth

Increased interest in environmental sustainability has meant that it’ll probably be easier to find homes to meet your ideals. However, it’s also necessary to do research before starting to shop for homes, and take time to understand what sorts of features you may encounter, and how effective they really are. For example, if you’re interested in using fluorescent lighting to cut down on energy costs, learn what you’re currently spending with standard lighting and how much you could potentially save by moving into a home with eco-friendly lighting.

Unfortunately, some potential home buyers make the mistake of seeing the “eco-friendly” descriptor and assuming that a particular house must automatically be better than everything else on the market, without learning how those benefits make a difference, and whether they’re really worth the extra expense.

Scope Out Eco-Friendly Communities

To meet demand for environmentally friendly homes, some areas are converting entire communities into eco-friendly spaces. Before getting deep into the home buying process, search for these possibilities, because they may help narrow down choices. The city of Alexandria, Virginia is one location involved in an environmental planning process led by the mayor. Residents there have opportunities to recycle, clean up natural areas and live in areas filled with homes built with environmentally friendly practices.

Check for Good Insulation

Details like insulation can make a huge difference. Wall thickness and depth can provide useful information, and is often available from the person who’s selling a home. Also, think about making upgrades to replace standard windows with double glazed varieties, or simply finding a home that already has these types installed. Being proactive about this can reduce your energy bill and keep occupants more comfortable in extreme temperatures.

Look at the Yard

When evaluating eco-friendly home choices, remember that adequate shade can affect the internal temperatures of the home, but also give the opportunity to produce some of your own fruit. Think about planting apple or pear trees, or preferably, find a property where they’re already thriving, since some fruit trees can take half a decade or more to begin producing.

The tips above can be very helpful if you’re ready to embrace the advantages of a green lifestyle, but don’t want to build from the ground up. In closing, remember that if a home doesn’t have all the features you’re looking for, there’s nothing stopping you from making enhancements after a sale is finalized.

Robin Knight writes for real estate blogs. If you live in the DC area, click here to find out more about Alexandria real estate.